Assemblyman Andrew Raia (right) and Assemblyman James Conte (left) welcome former professional hockey player and New York Islanders right-winger Bob Nystrom to the Assembly chamber recently. Nystrom was in Albany to urge lawmakers to lift a cap on the amount of prize money organizations can award their winners.

Assemblyman Andrew Raia (R,I,C-East Northport) and Assemblyman James Conte (R,C,I,WF-Huntington Station) recently welcomed former National Hockey League star and the hero of Game 6 of the New York Islanders’ 1980 Stanley Cup Finals Bob Nystrom to the Capitol. Nystrom was among other hockey greats who visited Albany on May 18 to urge the Assembly and Senate to take up legislation raising the cap on prizes awarded by charitable and other organizations. New York State law limits these prizes to $100,000 over a certain period of time. Many players’ associations conduct 50/50 raffles at NHL games to support youth-hockey associations and other charities and would like to see the $100,000 cap lifted.

“As a Long Islander I was proud to stand next to the hero of the Islanders’ 1980 Stanley Cup win,” said Raia. “Bob Nystrom takes the same competitive focus he used on the ice and applies it to charitable activities today. We could use an athlete like Bob in Albany these days to ‘face-off’ against the special interests and entrenched politicians impeding meaningful legislation like the much-delayed state budget vote.”

“By lifting the cap on prizes awarded by charities, the state is helping these organizations raise more money, which, in turn, allows them to serve more people in the community. This would be a win-win for Long Island,” said Conte.